Hello Roxy Readers! It’s been a busy, busy time on The Fourth this semester. I
haven’t even had time to surf! I still like to keep all my surfing gear organized,
though. It means I’ll be ready to roll when I do find a chance to hit the
waves. This made me think of the importance of organization in writing. Finding
a good flow is very important to an essay; if your ideas are all jumbled, then
your reader will not be able to follow your argument. Think of your essay like
a formula. Once you have your ideas organized, you just plug in everything in
between. Remember that good organization can be the difference between an
easy-to-follow essay and a really confusing one. A writer may have good
thoughts and arguments, but if they're poorly organized, then it doesn't
matter.
An essay has three main parts: a thesis statement, supporting arguments, and a
conclusion. Your thesis is your argument. This is what ties your entire paper
together. Try to have a thesis before you start writing your paper, but if you
don't have a polished thesis at this point, don't worry. There’s no need to
force it. You will have a thesis eventually, but you also have to remember that
it is the most important component of your paper. Your arguments are going to
support your thesis, and your conclusion is going to restate your thesis.
So, hypothetically, now that you have your thesis, you can follow that up with
your supporting arguments or evidence. If you find that you can't come up with
much in the way of supporting points, then you may need to reevaluate your
thesis. Your conclusion should restate your thesis. Notice I said restate, not
repeat. You should use different words. You don’t want to introduce new
material in your conclusion; leave all of that to your body paragraphs. See how
it all fits together?
The easiest way to organize your thoughts is to create an outline. Here is a sample
of what an outline could look like.
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I.
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Introduction
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Include a thesis stating your argument.
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II.
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Supporting point #1
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Evidence that backs up your thesis and proves your
point.
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III.
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Supporting point #2
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IV.
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Supporting point #3
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V.
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Conclusion
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Restate your thesis in a different way and tie up your
paper.
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This really helps when you're stuck. It’s like a road map to follow. Your ideas
are organized! Just like my surfing gear. If everything still seems all
jumbled, visit us on The Fourth. We’re always happy to help you.
See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the
waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!
